The News from ElephantToenails.com

I've Got a Beef!

I am angry and I don’t get this angry very often. Without getting into many specifics, allow me to share my observations with you.

Knife collecting will only continue to exist as an industry when folks spending their hard-earned money in good faith believe the knives they buy are authentic. At the point these folks’ confidence in the knife they are buying is shattered then the whole knife collecting hobby/ industry will crash.

Once collectors’ confidence is shaken in the knives they are offered or buy, then we might as well go buy real estate or Bank CD’s. I realize not all collectors consider their purchases investments, but they do expect the knives in their collection to be the real deal, even if they are simply buying them for pure pleasure.  BUT, for those who are buying for the pure enjoyment of their knives can not allow themselves to spend any significant amount if they suspect the knives aren’t authentic.

The reason the confidence in what I am calling “the system” is critical is this- how many collectors are experts in metallurgy? Or in the technical qualifications of genuine blade finishes or really have the expertise to judge whether an etch is ‘new’ or authentic. Sure, there are a handful of folks who are qualified, but do you know what… it is only a very small handful. So where does that leave 98% of us- relying on our own judgment. Yes, I know we have a few books, like Witcher’s, but I also have talked to many a dealers who have told me- these books have turned collectors into an army of critics who really don’t know and are just looking for what is wrong with the knife…and at every knife they look at. (Do you know how many oddities there are with 100 year old knives…some have pattern numbers stamped on them; some have circular stamps, other straight-lined stamps; some have bolster pins that are discolored and other times it indicates the pins have been replaced with brass pins- this list could go on for a page, but I think you get my point).

For our hobby to exist, we have to believe knives are real. I am not naive here and know there are fakes out there. Nor, am I saying we should blindly accept everything a seller tells us, BUT, therein lies the problem. There has to be balance.

Yes, I know we lock our houses at night in an attempt to lock out the bad guys. We know they are out there, and we also know our deadbolts aren’t really going to keep someone out who really wants in. I also know some of us have alarm systems, but if we really wanted to protect our families we would build a 40 foot high concrete wall filled with massive steel rods all the way around our house.

The same with driving…do you know how miserable we would be if EVERY TIME we got in our car we worried that EVERY car we pass coming towards us in the other lane is going to come over and hit us head-on. Sure, we are aware that could happen, but we don’t look for each and every car to come at us…or we would all suffer nervous breakdowns. We, for sure, wouldn’t let our kids drive if we really believed it was probable that at any moment the next car is going to hit them head-on.

We have to have faith/trust/confidence in “the system.” That the police and the legal system are doing what we need them to do and that is keep the “streets” safe, in the case of protecting our homes. And in the case of cars staying in their lanes, sure we know it is possible we could get hit head-on, but it is not expected or probable). We have to believe in the system, otherwise, we would be forced to go to drastic measures. So, like I said, there has to be balance.

Back to knives- so what are we to do? Send every knife we buy over $200 to one of these so-called knife experts… Again, let’s not be naive here. Some of these experts want us to doubt knives just to get us to hire them to help us. Plus, most all of these knife guys know each other- most very well. And they buy and sell to and from each other on a regular basis…so what makes us think we are really getting the truth when they look at a knife anyway. In addition to this, the question of their judgment comes into play. I have, on more than one occasion, had half of the experts say a knife is real while at the same time the other half says it is not…

This is a very sad commentary on the state of knife collecting, if every knife we look at we have to go through a 20 step checklist to determine if it is a fake or not. AND I’m not going to do it!

So, what am I saying here? Basically, that I am angry. And am saying for our hobby to exist and live on, we must believe that most of the knives out there are good and that the system works. Like my Dad told me early in my business career ( it was the same thing his father had told him) and that is- “There are folks out there who are going to screw you, but, you can’t live your life thinking everyone is going to. You will be miserable if you live your life thinking every person you do business with is that one who is going to screw you.”

We must have confidence in the system or it all breaks down.

 As I shared with you in my last post- you know the one about the many branches of the tree trunk, my interest in bringing knife news and interesting tidbits to knife collectors has branched out. I have published a new weblog called Cutlery News Journal. 

You guys have supported me greatly here at The News and I appreciate the encouragement expressed to me in this effort. One thing I have learned during that time is while I have a tremendous interest in all things related to elephant toenails, I have experienced a growing interest in knives and cutlery history on a broader scale.

The Cutlery News Journal will provide me an avenue to share with all collectors, of all types of knives, news relating to all of knife collecting. You know I have worked very hard to keep The News as toenail specific as possible. I have intentionally passed up on other topics in an effort to stay true to my original goal here at The News. 

With that said, as of yesterday, CNJ was launched. It is still in its infancy and its content will take time to build up, as it has here at The News. I realize you may be asking if I intend to keep The News going, and the short answer is YES, but I also want to keep it as toenail relevant as possible, therefore, my goal is as I find toenail nuggets I will post them for us here. However, my more general cutlery related topics will be published at CNJ.

I have no other agendas than that. I truly believe, and especially as more and more collectors get tech savvy (as in get computers and learn to use them in their knife collecting hobby) a greater need will develop for bite-sized knife collecting news and information. If you want try going to a blog search engine and type in Knife or Cutlery and see what little is being written about our hobby. Also, I do not intent to build out a total website like ET.com, instead CNJ will be more of a article/post format, like here at The News. 

Yes, we all treasure getting our monthly magazines, like Blade Magazine and Knife World, but there is a growing number of “information seekers” and folks wishing to be more engaged to the goings-on with our overall hobby that are seeking sites like CNJ. You also know the NKCA has cut its newsletter and other knife clubs may only publish theirs for part of a year. 

I do expect to post a greater number of post at CNJ than here at The News. One reason is there is simply a broader amount of information. Again, I want to keep The News more specific to toenails than I have over the last few months and believe this addition of CNJ to our family of knife sites will help me accomplish this.

If you have any questions or ideas for either site, please don’t hesitate to shoot me an email. Again, I sincerely appreciate all the support you guys have given me over the last several years and hope you will continue to support me in this addition.

This is a brand new site with little content at this time, but I welcome you to come take a gander. www.cutlerynewsjournal.com

Scott King

August 25, 2008

Have you found that collecting old pocketknives (in our case, Toenails) leads to collecting other “things” too? To me it is like a tree that branches out in different directions and yet each branch has the same trunk.

I don’t know all the branches you have taken, but for me have to fight to stay focused. You know, however, I find it fun to discover all things related to old knives, like billheads, boxes, knife rolls, photos, postcards, receipts, time cards, letters, etc.

Well a friend of mine hit me with a different type item the other day, and of course, I liked it.

You know I am working on research related to late 1800’s to very early 1900s cutlery salesmen. And while this piece isn’t that old, it directly relates.

Early knife salesmen were called, among other things, Knights of the Grip- and in case you have ever wanted to see an authentic grip-here you go. It is a Union Cutlery Company, Olean, NY Salesman’s case.

Talk about life and times, this sales- man’s bag puts you right there on the street with that salesman going from merchant to merchant.

Size is about 7-1/2″ x 18-1/2″, and about 14-1/2-15″ tall.

If you have anything related to early hardware co. or cutlery co. salesmen, please let me know.

Our life is filled with a deluge of thoughts and image impressions. Our memories are, to put it in computer terms, are like a folder on our hard drive. All day, every day, our internal video camera is recording everything our 5 senses are encountering. Think of the shear amount of data our brains filter on a daily basis. Most studies conclude the brain retains this information for your entire lifetime.

Well, while it is interesting to ponder all that I’m just a knife guy who can’t seem to “call up” my kid’s cell phone numbers, so trying to remember what I got for my birthday when I was 10 years old is fruitless.

BUT some things I can remember easily and as if it was just yesterday.

And the day I saw my first toenail is one of those instant recall memories. I’ll never forget it; that knife just jumped out and grabbed me.  It was so different from any of the knives I was familiar. It was so different, unusual, peculiar, and cool, that I knew right then and there I had to find me one!

Long story short- I was “studying” Levine’s Guide to Knives and Their Values 4th edition and when I flipped to the page- those ET’s just reached up and grabbed me ’round my neck.

Here is exactly what I saw

To be honest, it was the C Platts that stood out to me the most.

You gotta love that knife. I mean look at that master blade. It is huge.

I lusted over it for some time (before I turned the page). I was disappointed to see Levine say these knives were popular and expensive. I concluded they were going to be hard to find and really doubted if I would ever actually own one.

So, do you remember your first time?

As an aside, forget the value he had on it at the time (The jumbo had $675 and the pearl MSA at $1200). I’m guessing the book was published close to 25 years ago. That knife today is worth going on… Well that exact knife is owned by the Platts family and is worth probably $10,000 to $15,000! The pedigree of that knife being in the founders family for all these years is what knocks that price out of the park.

I know of two cleaned excellent condition W R Case swellcenters sold a few months ago for $4500 a piece. I know of another one in Near Mint condition offered for a tad under $6000.

Did you know that in 1877 several of the early American Cutlery Companies joined forces to auction a large amount of cutlery?

The auction was held in New York City on February 14th, 1877 and consisted of 800 lots. There was a very large attendance, including representatives of the leading houses in Boston, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Chicago, Baltimore and even San Francisco.

Listed as participating in the auction was Beaver Falls Cutlery Company, Landers, Frary & Clark, John Russell Cutlery Company, Meriden Cutlery Company, Chicago Cutlery Manufacturing Company and Lamson & Goodnow Manufacturing Company.

The New York Times reported on that date that the auction prices “were extremely satisfactory, being up to current market rates” and there was discussion of making the joint auction a permanent thing. It did go on to say the auction would continue the next day.

The article goes on to say, “The companies, although they have succeeded in driving most of the English manufacturers out of the market, have met a serious obstacle of late in the establishment of cutlery manufacturing companies in the West. They thereby lost a considerable proportion of their trade. This fact, and the general depression of trade, have left on their hands a large overstock of goods they wished to get rid of.”

I admit I pretty much do the lazy man’s mining. Smart folks know sometimes you aren’t going to find jewels on top of the ground, so you must “turn some stones” or move some dirt (in other words, you’ve got to dig).

Here is you a toenail on eBay that requires some digging. It was under the heading: “Antique 2-Blade Folding Pocket Knife.” As you will read below the seller discovered the brand and pattern with the help of ET.com. It is a Union Cut. Co (could be a Union Razor) and doesn’t have a reference to the pattern or brand. If you are interested check it out.

Here is his email:

“Hi Scott;  After looking on your website, www.elephanttoenails.com, I think I have identified an old knife that I am currently selling on Ebay [Item#130245439886] as a “UNION etc—-” Sunfish or Elephant Toenail knife. Other than the ON— on the blades that is legible [which I think is the last 2 letters of UNION], I can’t make out anything else, but the pictures on that website of the UNION 4-1/4″ knives with the light brown handles are almost exactly what this knife looks like. This knife and the others that I’m selling on Ebay have been in a plastic bag in my gun case for probably 15-20 years and I just found them again. Funny. Dave”

The description reads: “Part of my deceased Father’s collection is this vintage folding pocket knife with brown bone handles. The blades have been sharpened numerous times, but the knife is in very good condition and works perfectly. It has some lettering on the base of both blades, but it is so old and used that it is not legible [something like NO_ _ _?]. There may also be some numbers, but I can’t make them out. Thank you for looking and bidding.”

GOOD NEWS FOR COLLECTORS!

This auction just confirms what we here at ET.com talk about all the time- there are tons of toenails out there folks have that aren’t officially in circulation. This is a son’s efforts to sale some of his father’s items. The good news too is the son recognized the father’s knives as a collection and didn’t just toss them out.

Got an update from our friend and custom old knife maker, Mr. Jeff Claiborne recently providing us with additional behind the scenes of the knife getting real close to being finished.

He’s what he had to say about the later stage the knife is in:

“Scott, here is the next set of pictures- showing liners milled, stag cut and ground, blades handrubbed, and first fitting. Hope you enjoy behind the scene look at birth of the swellcenter. Thanks Jeff”

Here you go-

Don’t you love those Gen. Stag handles? I do.

Thanks Jeff for letting us see this beauty as she is being crafted.

Collecting: An Unruly Passion

Why do you collect? What is it that one gains from collecting (other than a bunch of stuff)?

Have you ever looked into the psychology of collecting? You know the- why folks collect, where the passion comes from, and what they feel once they have acquired their latest find.

Well, I have, so allow me to share some of what I discovered. I think you will enjoy learning a bit about yourself. I know, most men don’t like introspection one bit, but it is generally good for the soul, so come on stay with me on this.

A case has been made for the establishment of a chapter of the Knife Collectors Anonymous.

Some years ago I was looking for books on collecting. I wanted to find interesting information on collectors and items that are collected, and info about the “cycles of value and trends” of a given object. Sounds like exciting reading doesn’t it?

Well I ran across a book called COLLECTING: AN UNRULY PASSION-Psychological Perspective by R. Muensterberger. I thought it sounded very interesting, as I have always had an interest in psychology, and with the combination of collecting, it was right down my alley.

WARNING- THIS IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART, PREGNANT WOMEN, OR PEOPLE THAT TAKE THEMSELVES TOO SERIOUSLY ☺Talk about DEPRESSING!!  I couldn’t believe what I was reading… I wanted to share a quick snippet with you.

“Certain aspects of human conduct seem at first glance not to all exceptional or mysterious. Yet on closer inspection we can see that they can be quite perplexing and not easily understood. One such trait is collecting. Collectors themselves-dedicated, serious, infatuated, beset-cannot explain or understand this often all-consuming drive, nor can they call a halt to their habit. Many are aware of a chronic (yes, you read that right he used the word chronic. Can you believe that! SK) restiveness that can be curbed only by more finds or yet another acquisition.”

Then the writer closes out the first chapter with “I have followed the trail of these emotional conditions in the life histories of many collectors. They reveal the need of the phallic-narcissistic personality. We see them as show offs of all kinds. They like to pose or make a spectacle of their possessions. But one soon realizes that these possessions, regardless of their value or significance, are but stand-ins for themselves. And while they use their objects for inner security and outer applause, their deep inner function is to screen off self doubt and unassimilated memories.”

Hit me below the belt will you…this Muensterberger guy must have been someone who was outbid at the last minute on eBay (a victim of being sniped). Had this dude called me I would have told him upfront that I was nuts and saved him a lifetime of studying to try to figure that out.☺

Like I said, anyone here interested in joining the ET.com chapter of Knife Collectors Anonymous?

Knife collecting has several rewarding aspects; one of them is the memories associated with our knife finds- the person you got it from, the knife maker, where you got it, or even an event you are reminded of, like a particular knife show (maybe it was your very first knife show).

As you probably know, I had the fortunate opportunity recently to conduct the auction for the W R Case Cutlery Co. at their Case Collectors Appreciation Day held in Bradford, PA on July 18th & 19th.

The morning after the auction we arrived very early for 200 Club Breakfast. Tom Arrowsmith, the president of the W R Case Cutlery Co., started off the session by talking about how much fun the auction was the night before. I had just started to eat, there with Roger, Ken and their wives, when I thought I heard Tom mention my name. I look up and sure nuf- there he was holding out something and telling me to come up front.

Good grief… while I am an auctioneer and just the night before stood 800 folks, I am basically a shy person. But I walked up to the podium and there Tom presented me with a beautiful toenail in appreciation for helping with their auction. I was honored. (You guys know I’d give my left… big toe to work directly with the oldest knife company in America, especially one that made toenails from their earliest of days).

2008 Case Collectors Appreciation Day Toenail

Yes, my passion is early toenails, and not customs, but I can tell you- this knife ranks among my sentimental favorites. This gorgeous one-of-a-kind toenail sparkles a million brilliant colors. It features bright Abalone handles with Nickel Silver design topped with a Mother-of-Pearl inlay.

This was my second time to be the auctioneer for a Case Event. The first was two years ago at their Case/Zippo International Swap Meet. After that auction the Case folks surprised me with a special toenail too, but out of the blue a week or so later through the mail.

2008 & 2006 Case Event Toenails

The one at the bottom of the photo was made by the talented Mike DuBois. It features Jet Black Onyx handles with genuine Mother-of-Pearl accents and custom wire-cut nickel silver bolsters. While I won’t be posting either of these two knives in The List, I did want to share them with you here in The News.

Granted they aren’t big old fat toenails from days gone by, but to me these knives are priceless. Had they been auctioned at the Case/Zippo or the Appreciation Day auction, either one would have brought over $2500, but now… they are MINE! : )  Seriously, you wouldn’t believe the prices those knives sale for at the Case Auctions. I don’t have the final sales prices (I don’t write them down), but several brought north of $5000.

Got a bunch of projects going on at the moment. One just went out the door and should be published in an upcoming edition in Knife World soon. Even though it is on the broader topic of early pocketknives, it is related to toenails, of course.

Also, I’m burning the midnight oil, on a big project related to cutlery around the turn of the century. I’m still in the research stage now, but hope to have it to Knife World by the end of August.

I don’t want to give all the details away, but will share this much with you. You know I am a modern-day Commercial Traveler (commonly referred to as a traveling salesman, or road warrior), so I have an intense interest in life as a traveling cutlery salesman (sometimes called Drummers) around the time of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.

If you don’t know, many of the founders of early American cutlery companies were at one time traveling cutlery salesmen. As a side note here-  my great-grandfather was a traveling salesman (back in the early 1900’s), as was my grandfather and my father, so, “life on the road” goes back in my family at least 4 generations.